CDT_Washington's Channel

The Center for Democracy and Technology works to promote democratic
values and constitutional liberties in the digital age. With expertise
in law, technology, and policy, CDT seeks practical solutions to
enhance free expression and privacy in global communications
technologies. CDT is dedicated to building consensus among all parties
interested in the future of the Internet and other new communications
media.

The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) is a 501 (c) (3)
non-profit public policy organization dedicated to promoting the
democratic potential of today's open, decentralized global Internet.
Our mission is to conceptualize, develop, and implement public policies
to preserve and enhance free expression, privacy, open access, and
other democratic values in the new and increasingly integrated
communications medium.

CDT pursues its mission through research and public policy
development in a consensus-building process based on convening and
operating broad-based working groups composed of public interest and
commercial representatives of divergent views to explore solutions to
critical policy issues. In addition, CDT promotes its own policy
positions in the United States and globally through public policy
advocacy, online grassroots organizing with the Internet user community
and public education campaigns, and litigation, as well as through the
development of technology standards and online information resources.

Work on our mission is guided by the following principles:

1. Unique Nature of the Internet: We believe that the open,
decentralized, user-controlled, and shared resource nature of the
Internet creates unprecedented opportunities for enhancing democracy
and civil liberties. A fundamental goal of our work is seeking public
policy solutions that preserve these unique qualities and thereby
maximize the democratizing potential of the Internet.

2. Freedom of Expression: The Center for Democracy and
Technology champions the right of individuals to communicate, publish
and obtain an unprecedented array of information on the Internet. We
oppose governmental censorship and other threats to the free flow of
information. As an effective alternative to government controls, we
believe that a diversity of technology tools can empower families and
individuals on the Internet to communicate freely and make choices
about the information they receive.

3. Privacy: CDT is working for individual privacy on the
Internet. We believe that maintaining privacy and freedom of
association on the Internet requires the development of public policies
and technology tools that give people the ability to take control of
their personal information online and make informed, meaningful choices
about the collection, use and disclosure of personal information.

4. Surveillance: CDT challenges invasive government policies.
CDT is working for strong privacy protections against surveillance on
the Internet. We believe that the content of communications, stored
information, and transactional data deserve strong legal protection
against unreasonable government search and seizure. Protections against
government searches should extend to the network, as well as to the
home. CDT advocates for stronger legal standards controlling government
surveillance to keep pace with the growing exposure of personal
information in communications media.

5. Access: CDT is working to foster widely-available,
affordable access to the Internet. We believe that broad access to and
use of the Internet enables greater citizen participation in democracy,
promotes a diversity of views, and enhances civil society. We work for
public policy solutions that maximize, in a just and equitable fashion,
the unique openness and accessibility of the Internet and preserve its
vision as it evolves with ever more powerful broadband technologies.

6. Democratic Participation: CDT is pioneering the use of the
Internet to enhance citizen participation in the democratic process,
and to ensure the voice of Internet users is heard in critical public
policy debates about the Internet. CDT believes that the Internet
provides unique and effective means of promoting democracy and of
facilitating grassroots organizing and public education. We support
using the Internet to afford citizens the immediate, broad access to
government information necessary to the full practice of democracy.

Activities 

The Center for Democracy and Technology works to promote democratic
values and constitutional liberties in the digital age. With expertise
in law, technology and policy, CDT seeks practical solutions to enhance
free expression, privacy and open access in global communications
technologies. CDT is dedicated to building consensus among all parties
interested in the future of the Internet and other new media.

Free Expression

The Internet allows one to communicate, publish and obtain an
unprecedented array of information. CDT opposes government censorship
and other threats to the free flow of information. Putting into
practice its user empowerment vision of the Internet, CDT helped
develop GetNetWise.org, a Web resource giving families ready access to
tools for protecting children online.

Information Privacy

As Internet users surf the Net, they leave behind a trail of personal information
that can be captured and used in ways they often can't control and don't even understand. CDT seeks to develop
policy solutions and technology tools that empower users and enhance
privacy online.

Electronic Surveillance and Cryptography

The Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches
should extend to the Internet as well as the home. CDT supports the right
to use strong encryption, opposes
government design mandates that expand wiretap capabilities, and
advocates for stronger legal standards controlling government monitoring to keep pace with the growing exposure
of personal information.

Online Democracy

Acting as a catalyst for greater interaction between policy makers
and the Internet community, CDT is helping to create new avenues for
citizen participation in the democratic process. CDT's Web site, online
resources and policy newsletters have become models for Internet
activism.

Coalition Building

CDT believes in the power of broad coalitions. CDT organized the
Citizens Internet Empowerment Coalition (CIEC), a diverse group of
Internet users, librarians, publishers, online service providers and
civil liberties groups fighting for the future of free speech in the
information age. CIEC was a successful plaintiff in the U.S. Supreme
Court case declaring the Communications Decency Act unconstitutional.

Public Education

To educate the public about current policy issues, CDT
provides user-friendly Web resources such as the "CDT Guide to Online Privacy," the "CDT Privacy Quiz," Policy Post newsletters, and an updated guide to "Legislation Affecting the Internet." Working through the Congressional Internet Caucus and the Internet Education Foundation, CDT educates Members of Congress
on Internet issues.

Research and Scholarship

CDT assembled eleven of the world's leading cryptographers to examine the risks of
systems that would give the government access to private encryption keys. Their report, "The Risks of Key Recovery, Key Escrow, and Trusted Third Party Encryption," proved highly influential. Another ad hoc group convened by CDT produced for
the Federal Trade Commission a report on
unsolicited commercial email.

Development of Technical Standards

Working through the Internet standards setting processes, CDT plays
a leading role in ensuring that civil liberties values are reflected in
computer code. One of these standards, the Platform for Privacy
Preferences (P3P), gives Net surfers greater control over their
personal information. CDT promotes greater openness and public
representation in ICANN, the global domain names management group, and
the Internet's other technical bodies.

Advocacy in the Regulatory Process

CDT is a respected voice for Internet users at Federal agencies.
CDT's efforts at the Federal Communications Commission led to a broad
inquiry into the privacy risks posed by government wiretapping of
packet networks. At the Federal Trade Commission, CDT is pressing for
effective data privacy rights for online commerce.

Mobilizing Grassroots Participation

CDT has
revolutionized civic involvement through grassroots advocacy using
the Internet. The "Adopt Your Legislator" program offers netizens new opportunities to make their
voices heard in Washington. The "Privacy Watchdog" encourages consumers to examine online privacy polices and communicate their opinions to e-commerce businesses. CDT's "Action" page generates informed public participation in the
policy process, such as comments to the Federal Election Commission regarding political advocacy online.

Working Groups

CDT coordinates a series of working groups
in the areas of online privacy, digital security, and free expression. The
working groups offer a forum for communications service providers,
computer hardware and software producers, content providers, consumer
and privacy advocates, and other non-profits to exchange information
and build consensus around balanced solutions to policy problems.

International Activism

A global medium requires global activism. CDT's efforts have
included a major report on Internet free expression under human rights
law, a survey of policies affecting Internet access in Central and
Eastern Europe, and advocacy for broader public interest representation
in the global domain names election process.